Brentwood

Brentwood's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 74,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Brentwood increased by 7.5%, from almost 68,500 to 73,600.

The addition of about 5,100 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Brentwood was home to, on average, 3.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Brentwood

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Brentwood increased by two years, from 41 to 43 years.

This growing rural area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,200 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 16% of people in Brentwood are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Brentwood by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work hours

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased in Brentwood, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Eastof England, except St Albans.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 1.9% to 2.9%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

Brentwood saw Eastof England's third-largest fall in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (60%) households in Brentwood had no children, compared with 62% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 28% to 29%.

Across the region, only St Albans (from 61% to 58%) and Thurrock (from 57% to 54%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of households without children.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Brentwood

The percentage of Brentwood residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.3% to 3.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.8%, while the percentage of Brentwood residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Brentwood

The number of people in Brentwood that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 8,600 in 2001 to just under 16,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 13% to 21% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Brentwood that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 54,000 in 2001 to just under 51,000 in 2011 (from 79% to 69%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 4,100 to about 5,200 (from 6.1% to 7.1%).

About 780 people (0.8%) said they were Hindu, up from about 510 in 2001 (1.1%).

The population without a religion in Brentwood increased by 8.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Brentwood by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Brentwood, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Brentwood, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.2% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Brentwood remained close to 12%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 79% to 75%.

Private renting in Brentwood increased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Brentwood, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Brentwood residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.9% to 4.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Brentwood residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Brentwood decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Brentwood, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Brentwood, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.3% to 9.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29%) households had only one person, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of households in Brentwood which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 41% to 38%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in Brentwood that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.1% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in two (52%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Brentwood increased from 25% to 30%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 10% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Brentwood residents that were unemployed increased from 1.9% to 3.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 54%, while the percentage of Brentwood residents that were self-employed increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Brentwood increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Brentwood, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Brentwood residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.5% to 2.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.8%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Brentwood remained close to 2.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Brentwood by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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